Garden Blogger's Fling, Portland: Rhone Street Gardens

Beloved Rhone Street Gardens, home and garden of Fling organizer extraordinaire Scott Weber, is next on our tour of Garden Blogger's Fling gardens. Tucked away in Southeast Portland, Rhone Street Gardens is a special oasis.

Sited on a 50 x 50 square foot lot; it's significantly smaller than most by Portland standards. It did not, for some reason, feel small. It felt like a private meadow, something intimate and welcoming.

If I close my eyes and picture Rhone Street Gardens, I see electric purple, sizzling pink and soft grasses that add structure. I feel as if I were a child exploring a hidden garden with something to surprise me at every step. The character of the garden is contemporary in its structure (galvanized tubs and siding and an eco-roof), with a sophisticated selection of plants in a billowy setting. It's literally a meadow on a street corner; what lucky neighbors!

Scott has created a wonderful eco-roof, less than a year old and already looking well-established.

The south side of the house with a little peek down the path, a few garden bloggers taking it all in.

Every plant harmonizes with the others, Nothing felt out of place. This garden is one for the heart, one I could have lingered at the longest, but, ironically, it is also the smallest of the gardens we visited.

Aaaand what Portland garden would be complete without the neighbor's chickens visiting?

Hello, Miss Hen!

Such a sweet vignette. Scott's sense of color and design shine through again.

Rhone Street Gardens packs a punch in a tiny area. My hat is off to Scott for his amazing ability to create a sense of place on this street corner in Southeast Portland. What is also amazing is that while he opened up his garden to 80+ bloggers from around the world, he also was key in organizing this year's Fling - from hotels to catering to buses and beyond, he is definitely a multi-talented gardener and I for one appreciate all of his time sacrificed.

It was a joy and a treat to finally be able to see it in person. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Scott and Norm (and Boots the cat, too)!

That wraps it up for this week, stay tuned for more Portland gardens next time.
Happy gardening!

Comments

It sounds crazy, but I always wish for time travel after reading a post like this. No matter how much I love a garden, I know I'd appreciate it even more if I could see it through other's eyes first. Background and details on the design, the plant choices, and sometimes even the gardener, really help the experience come alive! In lieu of time travel, revisiting is pretty good, too. Thanks, Chickadee.

What was I doing in that picture? Stalking the chicken? I think I was. I just kept circling through Scott's garden. It was amazing how he was able to pack so many beautiful plants and inviting seating areas into it. Hats off to Scott for all he did to make the Portland Fling such a success!

I was thinking what a great shot you got of Anna, but then saw lots of other engaging people pix too. I'm thinking an album of all the people from various photographers would be fun. We might cover just about everyone. You really captured the spirit of Scott's garden here.

Great post on a wonderful garden, Tamara! I'm so grateful I got to see it in person, and on such an overcast day as well. It made the colors absolutely lush and gorgeous! Unusually good photo of me too! :)

Oh how I envy your experience as RSG has to be in my top five list. I've been a subscriber for years but didn't realize it was only 50' X 50' and I must have missed his post on a green roof. I've sod enjoyed your PF posts as I'm a quadriplegic who can only dream about so endeavors.

Oh, thank you Patrick! :) Thank you for reading and commenting, I'm glad you gain some enjoyment from garden posts...we all do here! I'm glad to learn about your blog, too! thanks for posting comments and reading. Scott's garden is certainly one to inspire!

about Chickadee Gardens

Chickadee Gardens has moved from a small, green oasis in the urban center of Portland, Oregon, zone 8b, to Saint Helens, some 35 miles outside of Portland to our dream of two acres. Our focus is native plantings but we also love (non-invasive) ornamentals. Sustainable gardening is our goal. Changes occur regularly in the design of the garden but the focus remains: this garden is for the chickadees (and bees, and bugs, and husband, and cats, and...)

As I work for Joy Creek Nursery in Scappoose, Oregon I have access to an amazing array of plant materials. Needless to say, I add a lot of plants and frequently change things up. Come along with us on our garden and farm journey, everyone is welcome!